First held in 2014 by the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs’ Association, the ‘Smile of Da Nang’s Government Employees’ awards, have created a driving force for local public cadres to bring better public services to local citizens.

The honourees receiving their awards in 2016

The annual awards aim to recognise honourees’ great devotion and dedication to their work, and to encourage local government employees to enhance their friendly and polite attitude and behaviour towards residents and businesses, as well as to boost the city’s administrative reforms.

Ms Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, a nurse from the Paediatrics Department of the city’s Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital, was one of the 10 honourees of the 2016 awards.

The hard-working nurse felt very delighted and proud to be honoured with the prestigious award in recognition of her great devotion to patients at the hospital. 

Over the past 9 years working at the hospital, Ms Thu has always behaved nicely and properly toward patients all the time, given them regards, and showed her willingness to help them when necessary. 

She pledged that, in the years ahead, she would make even great efforts to fulfil her assigned duties and promote their dedication to patients in a bid to ensure their satisfaction.

Another honouree is Mr Vo Huy Hoang, the Head of the Division for Receiving Administrative Dossiers and for Returning the Results at the Thanh Khe District People’s Council and People’s Committee (PC) Office. 

Over the past 15 years, he has always encouraged his juniors to receive and handle the administrative dossiers and then return the results to local organisations and individuals in a timely fashion.  Also, he usually proposes good ways to reduce the delays in returning dossiers, and save the waiting time of service users. 

The introduction of the awards by the Association is part of the city’s efforts to enhance its performance in the Viet Nam Provincial Competitiveness Index rankings.

Mr Phan Hai, the Association’s Chairman cum the General Director of the city-based BQ Shoe Company, remarked that the awards have received high praise and a great deal of attention from local agencies and the business community. 

He highlighted the significance of the awards in encouraging local public servants to ensure their appropriate attitude towards businesses and the general public as a whole.  In particular, it also rings an alarm bell for those who neglect their duties and behave inappropriately at work.